Upper Delaware, New York
West Branch Delaware River Fishing Report: June 15, 2026
The West Branch is still the strongest New York trout option, with cold release water, a higher but fishable Hale Eddy flow, and sulphurs, Cahills, olives, caddis, and Isonychia still in the box.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- rising
- Best window
- Late morning through evening, with the best dry-fly chance after flows settle
- Best methods
- nymphs, wet flies, dry-dropper, dry flies
Quick Summary
The West Branch remains the best New York trout option in this morning's report set. USGS showed 804 cfs at Hale Eddy around 8:00 AM EDT, with the latest water temperature near 51.6 F and a cold 43.7 F reading upstream at Stilesville. The flow has come up from yesterday, so treat wading as limited and choose softer edges, riffle margins, and boat-friendly water rather than pushing across heavier seams. Recent local Delaware-system reports continue to support sulphurs, Cahills, olives, caddis, Isonychia, nymphs, and swung wets; nearby freestone and lower-system water has been much more temperature-sensitive, so keep the focus on cold tailwater water.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good; cold tailwater water is fishable, but the Hale Eddy flow is higher and still rising from yesterday's level |
| Flow | 804 cfs at Hale Eddy around 8:00 AM EDT; 499 cfs at Stilesville around 8:00 AM EDT |
| Gauge Height | 3.33 feet at Hale Eddy; 8.07 feet at Stilesville |
| Water Temp | 51.6 F at Hale Eddy around 7:45 AM EDT; 43.7 F at Stilesville around 8:00 AM EDT |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges |
| Trend | Rising at Hale Eddy over the last 24 hours; stable release water at Stilesville |
| Best Window | Late morning through evening, with the best dry-fly chance after flows settle and bugs show |
| Best Method | Nymphs, wet flies, and dry-dropper rigs before surface feeding; dries for sulphurs, Cahills, olives, caddis, Isonychia, or spinners when fish rise steadily |
| Wadeability | Limited at Hale Eddy; fish from the bank, softer margins, and known safe crossings rather than forcing mid-channel moves |
Weather
For Hancock, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for patchy early fog giving way to mostly sunny weather and a high near 69 F. Northwest wind should be around 9 mph, with only light additional rainfall amounts possible. Tonight is forecast mostly clear with a low near 47 F. The cooler air is favorable for trout compared with the recent hot pattern, but the bumped Hale Eddy flow still deserves a fresh gauge check before any evening wade plan.
River Notes
The West Branch is the place to start if trout are the goal today. Hale Eddy is not low, and the rise from the mid-500 cfs range to roughly 800 cfs changes the wading plan, but the temperature profile is much healthier than the warmer freestones and lower Delaware-system reaches. Work edges, inside seams, riffle shelves, and soft bank water before stepping into pushy current. If the water carries stain from recent rain or flow change, nymphs, wets, and a visible dry-dropper are the practical first choices. If clarity is good and fish begin to show, slow down and match the actual rise form instead of assuming one hatch; sulphurs, Cahills, small olives, caddis, Isonychia, and spinners can overlap in June.
Hatch Activity
The current Delaware mix remains early-summer tailwater fishing: sulphurs are the main mayfly to be ready for, with Light Cahills, Blue Winged Olives, caddis, Isonychia, and spinners still relevant. Recent public local reports also point to nymphing and swung wets as the steadier daytime program when surface feeding is scattered.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-18 | Carry emergers, duns, cripples, and spinners for afternoon and evening fish |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Useful when larger pale mayflies mix into evening activity |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Keep small olives ready for shaded water and any cloudier window |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs, wets, and larger searching dries can all matter around broken water |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Pupa and soft hackles are good before adults or spent caddis draw surface takes |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Important at last light when the water stays calm enough for flat-water feeding |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Sparkle Dun or Comparadun | 14-18 | Primary dry when pale mayflies come off |
| Dry | Sulphur Spinner | 14-18 | Have ready for evening fish on softer flats |
| Dry | Light Cahill Comparadun | 14-16 | Use when larger pale duns are mixed with sulphurs |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun or CDC Dun | 18-22 | Match small deliberate rises in shade or softer light |
| Dry | Elk Hair Caddis or Spent Caddis | 14-18 | Good in riffles and near evening caddis activity |
| Dry | Isonychia Parachute | 10-12 | Useful as a searching dry around broken water |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Fish faster seams and swing near the end of the drift |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Dead drift or swing through riffle tails and soft edges |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Frenchie | 14-18 | Good small mayfly dropper before the hatch |
| Wet | Partridge and Yellow or Leadwing Coachman | 12-16 | Swing when bugs are active but fish are not taking cleanly on top |
Tactics
Start with a controlled wading plan, not a fly change. At roughly 800 cfs, the West Branch can still fish well, but crossings and mid-channel positioning are less forgiving. Nymph the near seams, fish a caddis pupa or Isonychia nymph under a buoyant dry, or swing wets through riffle tails until trout show on top. If you find consistent risers, lengthen the leader, use a downstream or reach presentation, and change one variable at a time: stage first, then size, then pattern. Recheck the USGS gauge before evening because a continued rise can turn a reasonable edge-water session into a boat-preferred plan.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY | 804 cfs | 51.6 F | USGS 01426500 |
| WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT STILESVILLE NY | 499 cfs | 43.7 F | USGS 01425000 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01426500 and 01425000, plus the National Weather Service forecast for the Hancock, NY area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with local public conditions reports reviewed separately for hatch, access, and method context.